Bears’ Javon Wims gets ejected for sucker-punching Saints’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson

The world may never know why NFL players choose to seek revenge by punching other players in the helmet, but Sunday, it was Javon Wims who became the latest to take that approach.

The Bears wide receiver Wims punched Saints’ cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson at the end of a play in the third quarter of their Week 8 game, inciting a scuffle that ended with multiple players on the ground. Wims was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected from the contest. At the time, Chicago and New Orleans were tied at 13, and on the very next play, Nick Foles threw an interception on second-and-long. 

The Fox broadcast showed what could’ve been the grievance Wims was trying to avenge — on the play prior, Gardner-Johnson appeared to stick his hand/finger in Chicago Anthony Miller’s facemask, up near his eye. So after the ensuing play, Wims jogged over after a run the other way. Wims appeared to yank a chain off Gardner-Johnson’s neck before swinging two right hooks at his helmet and hitting him a third time with his left hand. Gardner-Johnson appears confused, likely not understanding why Wims had come out of nowhere to swing at him. 

MORE: Marquise Brown subtweets Ravens after close loss to Steelers

There was also a 2019 incident where Gardner-Johnson put his hand in running back Tarik Cohen’s face near his eyes, similar to what he did to Miller on Sunday. And while it’s unclear whether that’s related, here’s that 2019 video. 

Wims is a third-year receiver who was taken in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Georgia. He’s been consistently third or fourth on the Chicago wide receiver depth chart for each of the last two seasons. Before his ejection Sunday, Wims had one catch for nine yards.

This isn’t the first time Gardner-Johnson was involved in a punching controversy this season. When Michael Thomas was held out of Monday Night Football in Week 5 due to disciplinary reasons, it was reportedly due to throwing a punch. The player he punched (in the helmet), per the reports? Gardner-Johnson.

Wims’ ejection could factor into the potential for a suspension. In 2017, A.J. Green and Jalen Ramsey got into a fight on the field where Green appeared to punch and choke Ramsey. But Green wasn’t suspended after being ejected from the game. While it likely wouldn’t be a huge hit to Chicago if Wims is suspended, it would limit the Bears depth in a Week 9 game in Tennessee against the Titans.